
*Shortlisted for 2016 European Book Prize* Giles Merritt describes himself as a 'sceptical europhile'. For many years among the foremost commentators on the politics and economics shaping Europe, he was named by the Financial Times as one of 30 'Eurostars' who are the most influential voices in Brussels. Slippery Slope is far from the usual run of uncritical EU-related studies. Its aim is to set alarm bells ringing across Europe with its revealing insights into our increasingly troubled future. Giles Merritt argues that the steepness and suddenness of Europe's decline in the 'Asian century' will depend on the actions we Europeans undertake. And there are two key lessons that we need to face from the beginning. Firstly, the 'good times' aren't coming back without a massive effort on our part. And secondly, in a fast-developing world of 9-10 billion people, no single European country can survive and prosper on its own. Merritt sets out to sort fact from fiction in his analysis of Europe's weaknesses, and the policies needed to address them. Placing the outlook for Europe in its global context, he assesses Europe's decline in relative as well as absolute terms, and puts forward an ambitious but realistic 'to do' list for Europe's policymakers if our comparatively privileged life styles are not to be seriously threatened in the coming years. In the wake of 'Brexit;, this is a hard-hitting warning that unless Europeans shake themselves awake their future will be increasingly gloomy. Anyone who believes that the economic crisis that began in 2008 is just a blip will find this book a salutary lesson in the reality of Europe's position.
This book investigates the structural weaknesses of the European Union and the urgent policy shifts required to prevent a long-term decline in the face of global economic competition. Giles Merritt, a veteran commentator on Brussels politics and a self-described 'sceptical europhile,' utilizes his extensive experience to analyze the continent's trajectory. He argues that Europe's current economic and political standing is precarious, asserting that individual nations cannot thrive in isolation within a global population of 9-10 billion. The text serves as a diagnostic tool for policymakers, emphasizing that the post-2008 economic climate is a permanent shift rather than a temporary anomaly.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Experts and readers recognize this work as a critical, non-partisan assessment of European institutional fragility. The text is frequently cited for its pragmatic approach to policy reform and its ability to synthesize complex geopolitical data into a coherent warning for European leaders.
Page Count:
286
Publication Date:
2016-01-01
Publisher:
OUP Oxford
ISBN-10:
0191075302
ISBN-13:
9780191075308
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!